I should've seen it coming that Norman would disassociate during the polygraph, allowing him to pass it. It was definitely a forehead-smacking moment for me. Although when he sees and talks to "Mother," I don't know that it means the belief will carry through; in other words, I don't know that he will now literally think Norma killed Miss Watson. Will this be like another blackout (as when he disassociated when he confronted Caleb), or closer to the time he was rejected by Bradley last season and stalked off, talking as if Norma? At this point he at least knows that he blacks out and "does things." But that doesn't mean he's going to be clear or remember when it happens again.
When I look at reviews of the show, everyone loves the Norma-Norman relationship especially and loathes the drug plotline. I haven't had as big a problem with that aspect of the show, but it fizzled out unsatisfyingly, I thought. Why the hell even introduce Jodi? Zane was simple but threw a wrench into the works; Jodi just felt like filler. I was excited about the idea of a "bad" female character in a position of power. Ah well. (Also, I guess nothing came of the pearls and article on Miss Watson.) A good contrast would be someone like Cody, who wasn't a season-long character but made a significant impact.
I disagree that Dylan being the new kingpin would erase external threats. I think it could multiply them. I doubt it would be an uncontested assumption of power, not to mention BOTH drug enterprises have lost leaders and are not likely to suddenly get along. And I'm guessing being in the highest position (something Dylan wouldn't be bad at as he's level-headed but doesn't seem interested in) comes with threats and decisions we haven't seen yet. At the very least, I'm guessing there would be conflict between Dylan and Romero.
Speaking of, rather convenient, Dylan running into Romero on the road. I know Romero was headed over there, but seriously. Ditto Norma coming home just after Norman left in time for Emma to see where he went. Narrative convention, blah blah, but this show can do stronger. I did like how this season finale called back to last season when Dylan killed Shelby, saving Norma and Norman, and Romero mopped up.
I must have read Dylan and Norma's conversation about what to do with Norman differently than you. While Norma wanted to run away (another nice bookend: at the start of the first season, Dylan was angry that she and Norman left without telling him whereas this time she got him a ticket to go with), Dylan encouraged her to stick around so that whatever happened with Norman and the polygraph, others would be safe from him (prison, an institution)--and essentially Norman would be safe as well. I didn't see it as him putting who he cares about first. Now, after Norman's passing the polygraph...that's another story, but we don't get much of that.
I love how Norman's disclosure of Dylan's parentage to Emma was both this act of sharing and a manipulation. Norman does care about Emma and knows his mother does, too, but carefully chooses what to tell her so she'll stick around.
Yes, Norman's mentally ill, but that doesn't mean he can't or doesn't have a tragic flaw as well--it seems just as Norma can't let him go, he always gives into her in the end. He bucks her control but never enough to shake it off. The two of them are forever in that dance (and, photos of LBJ notwithstanding, it is less common for Anglo-Americans to kiss adult children on the mouth--even if you just use other American shows as a measure--though Norma's kiss during her and Norman's dance was more lingering and lip-smacking than what she gave Dylan, I do still think they're playing on the show's ever-present incest vibes).
Re: 2.10 The Immutable Truth
I should've seen it coming that Norman would disassociate during the polygraph, allowing him to pass it. It was definitely a forehead-smacking moment for me. Although when he sees and talks to "Mother," I don't know that it means the belief will carry through; in other words, I don't know that he will now literally think Norma killed Miss Watson. Will this be like another blackout (as when he disassociated when he confronted Caleb), or closer to the time he was rejected by Bradley last season and stalked off, talking as if Norma? At this point he at least knows that he blacks out and "does things." But that doesn't mean he's going to be clear or remember when it happens again.
When I look at reviews of the show, everyone loves the Norma-Norman relationship especially and loathes the drug plotline. I haven't had as big a problem with that aspect of the show, but it fizzled out unsatisfyingly, I thought. Why the hell even introduce Jodi? Zane was simple but threw a wrench into the works; Jodi just felt like filler. I was excited about the idea of a "bad" female character in a position of power. Ah well. (Also, I guess nothing came of the pearls and article on Miss Watson.) A good contrast would be someone like Cody, who wasn't a season-long character but made a significant impact.
I disagree that Dylan being the new kingpin would erase external threats. I think it could multiply them. I doubt it would be an uncontested assumption of power, not to mention BOTH drug enterprises have lost leaders and are not likely to suddenly get along. And I'm guessing being in the highest position (something Dylan wouldn't be bad at as he's level-headed but doesn't seem interested in) comes with threats and decisions we haven't seen yet. At the very least, I'm guessing there would be conflict between Dylan and Romero.
Speaking of, rather convenient, Dylan running into Romero on the road. I know Romero was headed over there, but seriously. Ditto Norma coming home just after Norman left in time for Emma to see where he went. Narrative convention, blah blah, but this show can do stronger. I did like how this season finale called back to last season when Dylan killed Shelby, saving Norma and Norman, and Romero mopped up.
I must have read Dylan and Norma's conversation about what to do with Norman differently than you. While Norma wanted to run away (another nice bookend: at the start of the first season, Dylan was angry that she and Norman left without telling him whereas this time she got him a ticket to go with), Dylan encouraged her to stick around so that whatever happened with Norman and the polygraph, others would be safe from him (prison, an institution)--and essentially Norman would be safe as well. I didn't see it as him putting who he cares about first. Now, after Norman's passing the polygraph...that's another story, but we don't get much of that.
I love how Norman's disclosure of Dylan's parentage to Emma was both this act of sharing and a manipulation. Norman does care about Emma and knows his mother does, too, but carefully chooses what to tell her so she'll stick around.
Yes, Norman's mentally ill, but that doesn't mean he can't or doesn't have a tragic flaw as well--it seems just as Norma can't let him go, he always gives into her in the end. He bucks her control but never enough to shake it off. The two of them are forever in that dance (and, photos of LBJ notwithstanding, it is less common for Anglo-Americans to kiss adult children on the mouth--even if you just use other American shows as a measure--though Norma's kiss during her and Norman's dance was more lingering and lip-smacking than what she gave Dylan, I do still think they're playing on the show's ever-present incest vibes).